To entice the aging population of the Comox Valley to try transit, the team is putting on three events at the same time on Saturday October 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The three transit events are aimed at showing seniors how to understand the transit guide and how to use the bus so they can realize these benefits themselves.
“Seniors many not realize all the perks of taking the bus,” says Pamela Willis, Program Manager of CV Senior Peer Support. “If you ride transit, you can save money, contribute to improved air quality, socialize with other travellers or simply enjoy the freedom of being out and about”. Willis has been talking to local seniors who have decided to leave the car at home and use transit a few days a week, or park their cars and ride the bus as their main mode of transportation.
“It’s a matter of giving it a try,” adds Willis. “We want to support the independence of seniors in the valley so they can continue to visit friends, go shopping and attend activities without depending on their car.
Seniors will be able to meet and/or book a free Transit Ambassador, a volunteer that helps seniors learn the bus system in the Comox Valley. They can even give the bus a try and take a trip with an Ambassador to another Seniors Ride the Bus events.
“Trying transit with a volunteer, a friend, or a family member are good ways for seniors to get to know the bus system,” says Willis.
The three events will be held outdoors at the Driftwood Mall, (between the London Drugs and Quality Foods entrances), Comox Centre Mall (in the parking lot near the transit exchange) and downtown Courtenay at the 4th Street Transit Exchange (on 4th St. and Cliffe Ave.). Each will have a bus stationed for seniors to explore. “A knowledgeable transit driver will be there to guide people through the bus and help them find their route on the transit schedule,” says Michael Zbarsky, Manager of Transit and Sustainability for the CVRD.
All seniors who stop by will be invited to have a coffee or a treat and enter a prize draw to win exciting local prizes like groceries, gift certificates, pull carts or umbrellas. There will also be musical entertainment from the Forbidden Plateau Barbershop Quartet, LetzSing Choir and Guitarist Larry Ayre.
Transit Ambassador Program looking for Volunteers
The newly launched Transit Ambassador Program is still looking for volunteers. Volunteers committing to 10 or more hours per month will get a free monthly bus pass. Anyone over the age of 19 can qualify. Participation in a short training program and a successful criminal records check are required.
To learn more about Senior Ride the Bus Day or about becoming a Transit Ambassador, call 250-871-5940 or email seniorpeercounselling@shaw.ca.
The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.